Cassette loading apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cassette loading apparatus includes a holder arranged to hold a cassette, and a link mechanism arranged to support the holder with a plurality of levers in such a way as to allow the holder to ascend and descend between an ascended position and a descended position with respect to a chassis. The link mechanism includes a pair of levers which are disposed respectively on two opposite sides of the holder, and the pair of levers are formed integrally with each other through a connection part arranged above an upper part of the cassette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a cassette loading apparatusarranged to cause a tape cassette containing therein a tape for a VTR(video tape recorder) or the like to ascend and descend, and alsorelates to a recording or reproducing apparatus, such as a VTR, which isprovided with the cassette loading apparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] An example of the conventional arrangement of a cassette loadingapparatus mounted in a video camera or the like is described below withreference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are side views showing, byway of example, the arrangement of a conventional cassette loadingapparatus. A cassette holder 102 is arranged to hold a tape cassette101. A cassette pressing spring 103 is provided at the holder 102 forkeeping the cassette 101 in place. A connection shaft 104 is mounted ona support part of the holder 102. A synchronizing lever 105 is arrangedto swing integrally with the connection shaft 104. A lever 106 isconnected to the synchronizing lever 105 at about the center part of thesynchronizing lever 105 by a shaft 106 c and is arranged to form anX-link in conjunction with the synchronizing lever 105. A lock lever 107is arranged to lock the holder 102. Reference numeral 108 denotes asubchassis arranged to hold the cassette 101. The subchassis 108 isprovided with a lock member 109 which is arranged to mesh with the locklever 107. Cassette receiving members 110 are arranged to receive thecassette 101. Holder receiving members 111 are arranged to receive theholder 102. A lid opening member 112 is provided for opening lids of thecassette 101. A coiled spring 113 is hung between the lock lever 107 andthe lever 106 to constantly urge the holder 102 upward and to urge thelock lever 107 to swing clockwise on a shaft 102 b which is provided onthe holder 102. A switch 114 is arranged to detect the locked state ofthe holder 102. A main chassis 115 is arranged to hold the subchassis108 in such a way as to allow the subchassis 108 to slide. Guide shafts116 are disposed on the main chassis 115 to support and guide thesubchassis 108. A lock lever driving member 117 is also disposed on themain chassis 115. A switch holder 123 is arranged to secure the switch114 to a side surface of the subchassis 108. A flexible printed circuitboard 124 is arranged to provide the switch 114 with wiring.

[0005] Further, an X-link mechanism of the cassette loading apparatuswhich is formed by the above-stated parts is also arranged in the samemanner on the opposite side of the tape cassette 101, which is notshown. The connection shaft 104 is provided for synchronizing the twoX-link mechanisms formed on the two sides of the cassette 101 byinterlocking the synchronizing lever 105 on one side with that of theX-link mechanism on the other side.

[0006] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the operation of the cassetteloading apparatus is described as follows.

[0007] The cassette 101 is inserted into the holder 102 in the directionof an arrow A, as shown in FIG. 1. When the upper part of the holder 102is pushed down against the upward urging force of the spring 113, theshaft 105 a of the synchronizing lever 105 and the shaft 106 a of thelever 106 slide respectively along a cam slot 108 a of the subchassis108 and the cam slot 102 a of the holder 102 to cause the holder 102 andthe cassette 101 to descend.

[0008] Then, a pin 107 a which is provided on the lock lever 107 movesalong a slant surface of the lock member 109. Further, the lid openingmember 112, which is provided on the subchassis 108, pushes upward thefront lid 101 a of the cassette 101, so that the front lid 101 a and theback lid 101 b of the cassette 101 are made to swing on a shaft 10 c. Asa result, the lids of the cassette 101 come to open.

[0009] When the holder 102 and the cassette 101 reach the descendedposition of the holder 102, as shown in FIG. 2, the pin 107 a of thelock lever 107 overrides a hook part of the lock member 109 to be causedto plunge into the lower part of the lock member 109 by the urging forceexerted on the lock lever 107, thereby bringing about a locked state ofthe lock lever 107 in mesh with the lock member 109. In this instance,the plunging action of the lock lever 107 causes a switch operating part107 b which is provided on the lock lever 107 to push the knob 114 a ofthe detecting switch 114. The detecting switch 114 then turns on todetect that the holder 102 has been locked. Further, the front lid 101 aand the back lid 101 b of the cassette 101 are kept opened at apredetermined angle defined by the lid opening member 112.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the cassette 101 in the state ofhaving its lids opened. In this state, the front lid 101 a has swung onthe shaft 10 c, and the back lid 101 b has been moved in associationwith the front lid 101 a to shift to the upper portion of the cassette101.

[0011] When the locked state of the holder 102 is detected by thedetecting switch 114, a slide mechanism which has a DC motor (not shown)as a drive source thereof acts to cause the subchassis 108 holding thecassette 101 to slide to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to bring thesubchassis 108 into a recording or reproducing position (FIG. 3). Then,a tape is pulled out from the cassette 101 by a tape loading mechanismto bring about a recordable or reproducible state.

[0012] In this state, the cassette 101 is pushed by the action of thecassette pressing spring 103 (FIG. 1) against the cassette receivingmembers 110, which define a datum height of the cassette 101 on thesubchassis 108. There is thus provided some clearance between the bottomof the holder 102 and that of the cassette 101 to prevent the two fromcoming into contact with each other.

[0013]FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show the cassette loading apparatus as viewedfrom the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a side viewshowing the cassette loading apparatus, as viewed from the cassetteinserting direction, in a state obtained while the cassette 101 is inprocess of descending. The cassette 101 descends while being pushed andheld on the lower receiving surface of the holder 102 by the action ofthe cassette pressing spring 103.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the cassette loading apparatus,as viewed from the cassette inserting direction, in a state where theholder 102 has completely descended as shown in FIG. 2 with the holder102 locked by the intermeshing of the lock lever 107 and the lock member109. In this instance, in order to make the pin 107 a of the lock lever107 (FIG. 1) plunge into the lock member 109 for intermeshing, it isnecessary for the holder 102 to descend excessively from the lockedposition (overstroke). Hence, the holder 102 is pushed down lower thanthe height thereof in the locked position (HL in FIG. 6), and is thenbrought back to the locked position.

[0015]FIG. 7 shows the cassette loading apparatus in a state where theholder 102 has descended to the extent of such an overstroke. After thestate shown in FIG. 7, the lock lever 107 comes to mesh with the lockmember 109. At the same time, the holder 102 is caused to ascend by theaction of the spring 113 (FIG. 1) to bring about the state shown in FIG.6.

[0016] When the holder 102 is caused to descend by pushing the holder102 down toward the locked position or by some other load imposedthereon, the holder receiving members 111 receive the lower surface ofthe holder 102 to restrict the height of the holder 102. The height ofthe holder receiving members 111 is set at a height positioncorresponding to the overstroke necessary for the lock mechanism asmentioned above.

[0017]FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views showing the subchassis 108 as viewedfrom above and, particularly, more clearly showing the sliding actionthereof. In FIGS. 8 and 9, there are illustrated a recording andreproducing drum 118, a capstan 119, reel mounts 120, a cassette memoryterminal 121, and tape guides 122.

[0018] Further, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, slide slots 108 b arearranged in the subchassis 108 to allow guide shafts 116 to slide there.Reference numeral 101 d denotes the tape. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, theslide slots 108 b are formed along the two ends of the subchassis 108.The subchassis 108 is provided further with an escape hole 108 c whichis formed in an area where the fore end part of the lock lever 107 actsby piercing therethrough. With the holder 102 in the descended state,the fore end part of the lock lever 107 protrudes from the lower side ofthe subchassis 108, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0019]FIG. 8 shows the cassette loading apparatus in such a position asto allow the cassette to be inserted and loaded as shown in FIGS. 1 and2. When the locked state of the holder 102 is detected, as mentionedabove, the subchassis 108 slides upward as viewed in FIG. 8. At the sametime, the tape 101 d is pulled out from the cassette 101 by the tapeguides 122. With the tape 101 d pulled out, a predetermined tape path isformed as shown in FIG. 9 to permit recording or reproduction on or fromthe tape 101 d. With the cassette loading apparatus in this state, thecapstan 119 causes the tape 101 d to travel at a predetermined speed.The reel mounts 120 are in mesh with reel hubs arranged within thecassette 101 in such a way as to take up and wind at a predeterminedtorque the tape 101 d sent out forward by the capstan 119 in a knownmanner.

[0020] In taking out the cassette from the cassette loading apparatus,the conventional arrangement acts as follows. Upon receipt of a commandto eject the cassette 101, the subchassis 108 makes an outward slidemotion, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, reversely to the above-stated inwardslide motion. At the same time, the tape 101 d is rewound into thecassette 101. After that, the lock lever driving member 117 on the mainchassis 115 moves in the direction of an arrow B shown in FIG. 2. Thiscauses the lock lever 107 to swing counterclockwise against the urgingforce of the spring 113 to cancel the interlocking of the lock lever 107and the lock member 109. The holder 102 is thus unlocked to be allowedto ascend by the lifting force of the spring 113, then moving to thecassette-taking-out position as shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] In the example of the above-mentioned conventional arrangement,however, the levers and the detecting switches, etc., have not beenarranged in a manner apposite to a reduction in size of the cassetteloading apparatus.

[0022] In the first place, since the connection shaft 104 is disposed onthe upper part of the holder 102, the mechanism in the upper part of theholder 102 has a large dead space, which makes a reduction in thicknessof the cassette loading apparatus difficult.

[0023] Further, in order to minimize a space to be occupied by a deck ofthe cassette loading apparatus, the connection shaft 104 must bedisposed as close as possible to the cassette lids to permit theeffective use of a space available above the upper surface of thecassette. However, in the case of the example of the conventionalcassette loading apparatus, the detecting switch, the switch holder, theflexible printed circuit board for connection, etc., prevent theconnection shaft 104 from being disposed close to the cassette lids. Inother words, in order to have the X-link mechanism and the cassettedetecting switch interposed in between the cassette 101 and thesubchassis 108, it is necessary for avoiding interference with levers,etc., to increase a space in the direction of width of the cassetteloading apparatus.

[0024] Further, in order that the connection shaft 104 is disposed inthe neighborhood of the cassette lids, the lock lever 107 must bedisposed on the cassette inserting side to avoid interference with thesynchronizing lever 105, as in the case of the example of theconventional arrangement. However, as shown in FIG. 8, it becomesnecessary to have the hole 108 c which has the lock lever 107 piercingtherethrough located adjacent to the slide slot 108 b of the subchassis108. This necessitates a distance “d” shown in FIG. 8 to be sufficientlylarge to ensure a necessary strength and thus also prevents a reductionin size in the direction of width of the cassette loading apparatus.

[0025] Further, in the example of the conventional arrangement describedabove, the lid opening member 112 is disposed on the subchassis 108.Thus, the location of the lid opening member 112 also lowers the degreeof latitude allowed for design work and also prevents a reduction insize of the cassette loading apparatus.

[0026] The arrangement of the conventional cassette loading apparatusdescribed by way of example above thus makes it difficult to minimizethe size of the cassette loading apparatus both in the directions ofheight and width.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Under such a background, the invention is directed to thesolution of the problem of the prior art described in the foregoing. Itis, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a cassette loadingapparatus arranged to minimize a dead space caused by a mechanism of theupper part of a holder and to permit the effective use of the space ofthe upper part of the holder for the purpose of reducing the size of thecassette loading apparatus.

[0028] Further, it is another object of the invention to optimize thepositional arrangement of levers, a lid opening member, a detectionswitch, etc., which constitute the cassette loading apparatus, for thepurpose of reducing the size of the cassette loading apparatus.

[0029] To attain the above objects, in accordance with an aspect of theinvention, there is provided a cassette loading apparatus, whichcomprises a holder arranged to hold a cassette, and a link mechanismarranged to support the holder with a plurality of levers in such a wayas to allow the holder to ascend and descend between an ascendedposition and a descended position with respect to a chassis, wherein thelink mechanism includes a pair of levers which are disposed respectivelyon two opposite sides of the holder, the pair of levers being formedintegrally with each other through a connection part arranged above anupper part of the cassette.

[0030] These and further objects and features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0031]FIG. 1 is a side view showing, by way of example, the arrangementof a conventional cassette loading apparatus in a popped-up state.

[0032]FIG. 2 is a side view showing the conventional cassette loadingapparatus in a locked state.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a side view showing the conventional cassette loadingapparatus in a recording or reproducing state.

[0034]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cassette with lids thereof opened.

[0035]FIG. 5 is a side view showing the conventional cassette loadingapparatus, as viewed from the cassette inserting direction, in a statein which the cassette is in process of descending.

[0036]FIG. 6 is a side view showing the conventional cassette loadingapparatus, as viewed from the cassette inserting direction, in thelocked state.

[0037]FIG. 7 is a side view showing the conventional cassette loadingapparatus, as viewed from the cassette inserting direction, in a statein which a cassette holder has descended to the extent of overstroke.

[0038]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a slide chassis (subchassis) in theconventional cassette loading apparatus.

[0039]FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the slide chassis (subchassis) inthe conventional cassette loading apparatus.

[0040]FIG. 10 is a side view showing the arrangement of a cassetteloading apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention, in apopped-up state.

[0041]FIG. 11 is a side view showing a positional relation of asynchronizing lever to cassette lids in the popped-up state of thecassette loading apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0042]FIG. 12 is a side view showing the cassette loading apparatus,according to the embodiment, in a state in which the cassette is inprocess of descending.

[0043]FIG. 13 is a side view showing the cassette loading apparatus,according to the embodiment, in a state in which the cassette has beenmoved down and locked.

[0044]FIG. 14 is a side view showing the cassette loading apparatus,according to the embodiment, in a recording or reproducing state.

[0045]FIG. 15 is a side view showing the arrangement of a holder, asubholder and a lock lever in the cassette loading apparatus accordingto the embodiment.

[0046]FIG. 16 is a plan view of the cassette loading apparatus accordingto the embodiment.

[0047]FIG. 17 is a plan view of a slide chassis in the cassette loadingapparatus according to the embodiment.

[0048]FIG. 18 is a side view showing an eject lever and parts arrangedaround the eject lever in the cassette loading apparatus according tothe embodiment.

[0049]FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the eject lever and partsarranged around the eject lever in the cassette loading apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

[0050]FIG. 20 is a plan view of the slide chassis in the cassetteloading apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0051]FIG. 21 is a plan view of the slide chassis in the cassetteloading apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0052]FIG. 22 is a plan view of the slide chassis in the cassetteloading apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0053]FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing, by way of example, amodification of the eject lever in the cassette loading apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

[0054]FIG. 24 is a side view showing, by way of example, a modificationof an engaging part 3 c in the cassette loading apparatus according tothe embodiment.

[0055]FIG. 25 is a side view showing the cassette loading apparatus,according to the embodiment, as viewed from the cassette insertingdirection.

[0056] FIGS. 26(a), 26(b) and 26(c) are side views showing the cassetteloading apparatus, according to the embodiment, as viewed from thecassette inserting direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0058] FIGS. 10 to 15 are side views showing a cassette loadingapparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 16 and 17are plan views showing the cassette loading apparatus according to theembodiment.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 17, a holder 1 is arranged to hold atape cassette 101, which is inserted from the direction of an arrow A. Acassette pressing spring 2 is arranged to push the (tape) cassette 101.A synchronizing lever 3 is connected with the holder 1 in such a way asto be swingable on a shaft 1 b which is provided on the holder 1. Alever 4 is connected to the synchronizing lever 3 at a shaft 3 a of thesynchronizing lever 3 to form an X-shaped link in conjunction with thesynchronizing lever 3. A coiled spring 5 is hooked between a lock lever6 and the lever 4 to urge the lock lever 6 to move clockwise on a shaft1 c which is provided on the holder 1 and also to constantly urge theholder 1 upward.

[0060] A subholder 7 is mounted on the inner side of the holder 1 insuch a way as to be slidable up and down. A slide chassis 8 is providedwith a shaft 8 c. A back plate 9 is connected to the slide chassis 8 andis provided with a shaft 4 a on which the lever 4 is swingable. An ejectlever 10 is mounted on the shaft 8 c of the slide chassis 8 and isswingable on the shaft 8 c. Reference numeral 11 denotes a main chassis.A driving lever 12 is provided on the main chassis 11.

[0061]FIG. 10 is a side view showing the cassette loading apparatus in apop-up state, in which the cassette 101 can be inserted. FIG. 11 is aside view showing the positional relation of the synchronizing lever 3to the lids of the cassette 101, which are supposedly opened, in thepop-up state. As shown in FIG. 11, a connection part 3 d of thesynchronizing lever 3 is arranged to intrude into a space in which thelids of the cassette 101 are opened (a space indicated by hatching inFIG. 4), when the cassette loading apparatus is in the pop-up state(FIG. 10).

[0062]FIG. 12 shows in a side view a state of the lids of the cassette101 obtained while the cassette 101 is in process of descending from thepop-up state. FIG. 13 shows the holder 1 in a locked state. FIG. 14shows the slide chassis 8 at a recording or reproducing position whichis arrived at by sliding the slide chassis 8 relative to the mainchassis 11.

[0063]FIG. 15 shows in a side view the arrangement of the holder 1, thesubholder 7 and the lock lever 6. The subholder 7 is mounted to theholder 1 in such a way as to be slidable up and down through shafts 7 aalong slots 1 d provided in a side wall of the holder 1. The lock lever6 is mounted on the shaft 1 c of the holder 1 by sliding the shaft 1 cover a key hole 6 d. With the spring 5 (FIG. 10) hooked between the locklever 6 and the lever 4, the lock lever 6 is urged to swing clockwise onthe shaft 1 c. At this time, the subholder 7 is biased downward underthe urging force of the spring 5 relative to the holder 1 with a stopper6 c, which is provided on the lock lever 6, abutting on the shaft 7 a ofthe subholder 7.

[0064]FIG. 16 shows in a plan view the cassette loading apparatusaccording to the embodiment. The synchronizing lever 3 is composed ofright and left lever parts and the connection part 3 d and is a pressedpart which is integrally formed by press work into such a U shape as toencompass the cassette 101 on its two sides. The connection part 3 d ofthe synchronizing lever 3 which is formed in this manner is disposednear to the middle part of the upper part of the cassette 101. The backplate 9 is a pressed part arranged to connect, in a swingable manner,the shaft 4 a (FIG. 10) of the lever 4 which is on one side and that ofanother lever which is similarly arranged on the other of two oppositesides of the cassette 101.

[0065]FIG. 17 shows in a plan view the slide chassis 8 (FIG. 10). Thelink mechanism which is composed of the holder 1 and the synchronizinglever 3, etc., as mentioned above is mounted as follows. The shaft 8 bof the slide chassis 8 is first inserted into a cam slot 3 b formed inthe fore end engaging part 3 c (FIG. 16) of the synchronizing lever 3.After that, the link mechanism is mounted on the inner sides of theright and left bent parts of the slide chassis 8 by securing theabove-stated back plate 9 (FIG. 10) to the slide chassis 8 with screws.

[0066] A cassette-in detecting mechanism according to the embodiment isnext described below with reference to FIGS. 17 to 22. In FIGS. 17 to22, there are illustrated a cassette-in (insertion) detecting switch 14disposed on the slide chassis 8, a cassette memory terminal 15, a reelmount 16, a reel sensor 17, a keep plate 18, a flexible printed circuitboard 19, and a return spring 20 which is mounted on the eject lever 10.FIG. 17 shows in a plan view the slide chassis 8 in a state in which theholder 1 is in the ascended position (hereinafter referred to as theST-BY state). FIG. 18 shows in a side view the arrangement of partsaround the eject lever 10. FIG. 19 shows in a perspective view the partsaround the eject lever 10. FIG. 20 shows in a plan view the slidechassis 8 in a state in which the holder 1 has been locked by the locklever 6 (hereinafter referred to as the locked state). FIG. 21 shows ina plan view the slide chassis 8 in a state in which the holder 1 isreleased from the locked state (hereinafter referred to as the ejectingstate) according to a command for ejection.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 17 to 22, the eject lever 10 is supported bythe shaft 8 c on the slide chassis 8 to be swingable on the shaft 8 c.The keep plate 18, which is made of a thin plate, is disposed over theeject lever 10. Further, the return spring 20 is hooked on bent-up parts10 e and 10 f provided in the neighborhood of the center of swing of theeject lever 10 and is thus arranged integrally with the eject lever 10.The return spring 20 has arms fitted on two bent-up parts 10 c of theeject lever 10 in a charging state. The fore end parts of the arms ofthe return spring 20 are also attached to two bent-up parts 18 a of thekeep plate 18 in a charging state. With the return spring 20 arranged inthis manner, the eject lever 10 is constantly urged to return to aneutral position as shown in FIG. 17.

[0068] In the locked state which is obtained with the eject lever 10having swung clockwise, as shown in FIG. 20, an arm 20 a of the returnspring 20 performs a charging action in conjunction with the bent-uppart 18 a of the keep plate 18 to generate a counterclockwise moment. Inthe ejecting state which is obtained with the eject lever 10 havingswung counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 21, another arm 20 b of thereturn spring 20 performs a charging action in conjunction with thebent-up part 18 a of the keep plate 18 to generate a clockwise moment.

[0069] The eject lever 10 has a driven part lob, which protrudes fromthe lower part of the slide chassis 8 through a hole part 8 f of theslide chassis 8. However, since the hole part 8 f is formed in such aposition as not to be adjacent to the slide slot 8 d of the slidechassis 8, the hole part 8 f causes no problem in respect of strength.

[0070] Further, if the cassette loading apparatus affords a sufficientlywide margin for thickness, the eject lever 10 may be molded with aplastic material, as an eject lever 10′ shown in FIG. 23, in such a wayas to exert an urging force by utilizing the resilience of the plasticmaterial.

[0071] The cassette-in detecting switch 14 is mounted on an uppersurface of the flexible printed circuit board 19 which is attached tothe back side of the slide chassis 8 and is exposed through a hole part8 e provided in the slide chassis 8. A space left in the direction ofthickness of the cassette loading apparatus is effectively minimizedwith the switch 14 mounted in this manner. On the flexible printedcircuit board 19, there are also mounted the reel sensor 17, whichdetects the rotation of the reel mount 16, and the cassette memoryterminal 15. However, since the parts mounted on the circuit board 19are arranged in a congregative manner, the area of the flexible printedcircuit board 19 can be arranged to be in a small and simple shape.

[0072] The above-stated detecting switch 14 has a knob 14 a. The knob 14a is arranged to be guided through a space between the keep plate 18 andthe slide chassis 8 with a predetermined clearance. Meanwhile, the ejectlever 10 has a switch operating part 10 d, which is formed by bendingback and folding a metal plate to have a sufficient thickness and toenable the eject lever 10 to reliably perform a pushing action on theswitch 14 although the eject lever 10 is thinly formed.

[0073] The cassette loading apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention operates as described below. A cassette loading operation isfirst described as follows.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 10, the cassette 101 is inserted from thedirection of the arrow A. The holder 1 is pushed down against itsascending force to cause the holder 1 to descend with the cam slot 3 bof the synchronizing lever 3 and the shaft 8 b of the slide chassis 8sliding on each other while the cam slot 4 c of the lever 4 and theshaft 1 a of the holder 1 also slide on each other.

[0075] In the pop-up state shown in FIG. 10, since the connection part 3d of the synchronizing lever 3 is aslant toward the cassette insertingdirection in this state, the connection part 3 d guides the upper partof the cassette 101 without locking the cassette 101 when the upper partof the cassette 101 comes to abut on the connection part 3 d. Theconnection part 3 d of the synchronizing lever 3 thus functions as aguide member in inserting the cassette 101 to a correct position.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 12, while the cassette 101 is in process ofdescending, the front lid 101 a of the cassette 101 is lifted up by thefore end engaging part 3 c of the synchronizing lever 3 which isarranged to be caused to swing counterclockwise accordingly as theholder 1 moves down. The front lid 101 a of the cassette 101 then swingson the center of swing 101 c. At the same time, the back lid 101 b ofthe cassette 101 moves to the upper part of the cassette 101. Both thefront and back lids 101 a and 101 b of the cassette 101 thus come toopen. At this time, the connection part 3 d of the synchronizing lever 3is caused to move in the same direction as the back lid 101 b (adirection opposite to the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 10) bythe counterclockwise swing of the synchronizing lever 3.

[0077] When the holder 1 and the cassette 101 reach the descendedposition of the holder 1 (FIG. 13), the pin 6 a of the lock lever 6comes beyond (overrides) an angular part of the guide member 8 a to becaused by the lock lever urging force to plunge into and intermesh withthe lower part of the guide member 8 a to bring about a locked state. Atthe same time as the interlocking, the fore end part 6 b of the locklever 6 (FIG. 10) comes to push a part 10 a of the eject lever 10 tocause the eject lever 10 to swing on the shaft 8 c. The swinging forceof the lock lever 6 is set to be stronger than the returning force ofthe eject lever 10. The eject lever 10, therefore, swings from theneutral position shown in FIG. 17 to a lock position shown in FIG. 20.This causes the cassette-in detecting switch 14 to turn on to detectthat the holder 1 has been locked.

[0078] The front lid 101 a and the back lid 101 b of the cassette 101are kept in their prescribed open positions by the fore end engagingpart 3 c of the synchronizing lever 3, so that the tape can be pulledout from the cassette 101. The front and back lids 101 a and 101 b ofthe cassette 101 are thus arranged to be opened by means of thesynchronizing lever 3. This arrangement not only permits thesimplification of the structural arrangement of the cassette loadingapparatus but also enables the holder 1 to be caused to descend at areliably accurate timing.

[0079] In a possible modification of the embodiment of the invention,the fore end engaging part 3 c of the synchronizing lever 3 is replacedwith an elastic member 3 c′ which is arranged as shown in FIG. 24.

[0080] Further, with the front and back lids 101 a and 101 b of thecassette 101 in the above-stated open state, the upper part (connectionpart 3 d) of the synchronizing lever 3 is located along the back lid 101b. The spring 5 is located lower than the height of the back lid 101 b(which is open) and the height of the synchronizing lever 3. Thecassette loading apparatus is thus arranged to minimize a dead spaceleft above the cassette 101. In accordance with the invention, theconnection part 3 d and the center of swing of the synchronizing lever 3are allocated near to the lids of the cassette 101 and the lock lever 6is allocated close to a cassette inserting entrance part. Therefore, thecassette loading apparatus can be compactly arranged to be in a sizeclose to the size of the tape cassette 101.

[0081] Upon detection of the locked state of the holder 1, the slidechassis 8 is caused by a driving mechanism (not shown) to slide over themain chassis 11 along the guide slots 8 d shown in FIG. 17. At the sametime, the tape is pulled out from the cassette 101 by a tape loadingmechanism (not shown). With the tape pulled out, a predetermined tapepath is formed in such a way as to have the pulled-out tape wrappedaround a recording/reproducing head to permit recording or reproductionto be performed on or from the tape (FIG. 14).

[0082] The relation of the holder 1 and the subholder 7 to the tapecassette 101 is next described. FIG. 25 shows the cassette loadingapparatus, as viewed from the direction of the arrow A, in a state ofhaving the cassette locked. FIG. 26(a) shows the relation of the holder1 to the cassette 101 in a state obtained while the cassette 101 ismoving downward. FIG. 26(b) shows the relation of the holder 1 to thecassette 101 in a state obtained while the holder 1 is in the lockedstate. FIG. 26(c) shows the relation of the holder 1 to the cassette 101in a state obtained while the holder 1 is at the overstroke position.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 26(a), the cassette 101 descends while beingpressed and held by the action of the cassette pressing spring 2 againstthe receiving surface of the holder 1 and that of the subholder 7. Thesubholder 7 is biased downward with respect to the holder 1 under theurging force of the lock lever 6 and the force exerted from the cassette101. The cassette pressing spring 2 is arranged to push the uppersurface of the cassette 101, as shown in FIG. 16. The subholder 7 isarranged not to interfere with the cassette pressing spring 2.

[0084] In the cassette locking state shown in FIG. 26(b), the cassette101 is pushed against cassette receiving members 21 under the action ofthe cassette pressing spring 2. Meanwhile, a bottom surface part on theleft side of the holder 1 as viewed in FIG. 26(b) (on the side having nolock mechanism) abuts on a holder receiving member 22 in such a way asto restrict the height of the bottom surface of the holder 1.

[0085] In the overstroke state shown in FIG. 26(c), the right side ofthe holder 1, as viewed in FIG. 26(c), having the lock mechanism isalone allowed to move down relative to the subholder 7 for a lockingaction.

[0086] As mentioned in the foregoing, in order to cause the pin 6 a ofthe lock lever 6 to plunge into the guide member 8 a, the holder 1 mustbe allowed to descend further downward (overstroke) from the positionobtained after locking. According to the above-stated arrangement of theembodiment, at the time of making the overstroke as shown in FIG. 26(c),the cassette receiving surface of the holder 1 and that of the subholder7 are not allowed to descend, due to the abutment with the holderreceiving members 22, while the part of the holder 1 on the locking sideis alone allowed to descend further to the extent of an overstrokepoint. By this arrangement, a dead space in the direction of height ofthe cassette receiving surfaces of the subholder 7 and the holder 1 andthe slide chassis 8 can be lessened.

[0087] An ejecting action is next described. When an “eject” command isreceived, the slide chassis 8 slides in the direction of parting fromthe main chassis 11. The tape is then wound up into the cassette 101 tobring about a state shown in FIG. 13.

[0088] The driving lever 12, which is provided on the main chassis 11,then moves in the direction of an arrow B shown in FIG. 11 to push thepart 10 c of the eject lever 10. The eject lever 10 is thus caused toswing counterclockwise on the shaft 8 c. The part 10 a of the ejectlever 10 then pushes the fore end part 6 b of the lock lever 6. Thisunlocks the holder 1. The spring 5 then acts to pop up the holder 1 tobring the cassette loading apparatus into the state shown in FIG. 10. Atthis time, a shock absorbing rubber part 4 b which is mounted on thelever 4 abuts on a part 9 a of the back plate 9 to absorb the impact ofthe pop-up action.

[0089] The cassette-in detecting switch 14 turns off upon completion ofthe cassette ejecting action. When the completion of the cassetteejecting action is detected with the switch 14 turned off, the drivinglever 12 returns to the stand-by position. Then, the eject lever 10 isbrought back to the neutral position shown in FIG. 17 by the action ofthe return spring 20.

[0090] According to the arrangement of the embodiment described above,the use of a connection shaft which has been conventionally used forsynchronizing the X-shaped link parts disposed on both sides of thecassette loading apparatus of a magnetic recording and reproducingapparatus is omitted. In the case of the embodiment, a part whichcorresponds to the conventional connection shaft is formed, by presswork, integrally with the lever parts which are disposed on both sidesof the cassette loading apparatus, and is arranged in such a way as tostride across the upper part of the cassette. This arrangementeffectively minimizes a dead space left above the cassette.

[0091] Further, the above-stated pressed part which is integrally formedis arranged to intrude into a space in which the cassette lids areopened, when the cassette loading apparatus is popped up. Then, thepressed part is arranged to escape from the cassette lids when thecassette lids are opened at the same time as the descent of thecassette. That arrangement enables the cassette loading apparatus tohave a sufficient strength of the connection part, while the dead spaceabove the upper part of the cassette is minimized, so that an apparatushaving the cassette loading apparatus can be compactly arranged.

[0092] Further, compared with the conventional cassette loadingapparatus described by way of example in the foregoing and arranged toconnect the connection shaft to the right and left levers by caulking,the cassette loading apparatus having the pressed part according to theinvention can be arranged at a lower cost.

[0093] Further, according to the arrangement of the embodiment describedabove, a mechanism for opening the lids of the cassette is formed by thelink mechanism. The arrangement simplifies the structural arrangement,effectively permits a reduction in thickness, and also enables thecassette loading apparatus to perform the lid opening and closingactions at good timing with respect to the ascending and descendingaction of the holder.

[0094] Further, the embodiment described above is arranged to have thecassette-in detecting switch disposed on the slide chassis, to cause thecassette-in detecting switch to act in association with the lockingaction of the lock lever, and to have the member which is provided forcausing the lock lever to perform an unlocking action in associationwith the ejecting action of the eject lever disposed also on the slidechassis. By virtue of this arrangement, the synchronizing levers can bedisposed in the neighborhood of the lids of the tape cassette, and thelock lever can be disposed on the side of the cassette insertingentrance part, where the lock lever does not interfere with thesynchronizing levers. This arrangement permits a reduction in size ofthe cassette loading apparatus to a great extent.

[0095] Further, according to the arrangement of the embodimentdescribed, the subholder is arranged on the side of the cassette holderlocking mechanism to be movable up and down relative to the cassetteholder and to have its position restricted by the holder receivingmember on the slide chassis when the holder descends. By virtue of thatarrangement, a dead space for an overstroke existing in the direction ofheight of the cassette holder and the slide chassis can be lessened.

1. A cassette loading apparatus, comprising: a holder arranged to hold acassette; and a link mechanism arranged to support said holder with aplurality of levers in such a way as to allow said holder to ascend anddescend between an ascended position and a descended position withrespect to a chassis, wherein said link mechanism includes a pair oflevers which are disposed respectively on two opposite sides of saidholder, said pair of levers being formed integrally with each otherthrough a connection part arranged above an upper part of the cassette.2. A cassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidconnection part is arranged to intrude into a space brought about by aswinging motion of a cassette lid of the cassette when said holder is atthe ascended position, and is arranged to move out from the space whensaid holder is at the descended position.
 3. A cassette loadingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connection part is arrangedto be located between a cassette lid of the cassette and said holderwhen said holder is at the descended position.
 4. A cassette loadingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connection part is arrangedto be located at a height lower than the height of a cassette lid of thecassette when said holder is at the descended position.
 5. A cassetteloading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connection part isarranged to be approximately parallel with an outside shape of acassette lid of the cassette when said holder is at the descendedposition.
 6. A cassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid connection part is arranged to be located adjacent to a cassettelid of the cassette when said holder is at the descended position.
 7. Acassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connectionpart is arranged to function as a guide for an upper surface of thecassette in inserting the cassette when said holder is at the ascendedposition.
 8. A cassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid connection part and said pair of levers are formed integrally bypress work with a sheet metal.
 9. A cassette loading apparatus,comprising: a holder arranged to hold a cassette; a slide chassis havinga reel mount mounted thereon and arranged to be slidable with respect toa chassis; support means disposed on two opposite sides of said holderto support said holder in such a way as to allow said holder to ascendand descend with respect to said slide chassis; lock means for lockingsaid holder to said slide chassis; detecting means for detecting alocked state brought about by said lock means; and a relay memberarranged to cause said detecting means to act, wherein said detectingmeans and said relay member are disposed on said slide chassis, and saidrelay member causes said detecting means to act according to a lockingaction performed on said holder by said lock means.
 10. A cassetteloading apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising driving meansfor canceling the locked state brought about by said lock means bydriving said relay member in response to a command for ejecting thecassette.
 11. A cassette loading apparatus according to claim 9, whereinsaid relay member is arranged to be swingable between a first positionat which said relay member causes said detecting means to act and asecond position at which said relay member cancels the locked statebrought about by said lock means, and is arranged to be normally at athird position which is at an intermediate point between the firstposition and the second position.
 12. A cassette loading apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein said lock means locks said holder bycausing a lock lever provided on a side surface of said holder under anurging force to engage a lock member provided on said slide chassis. 13.A cassette loading apparatus, comprising: a holder arranged to hold acassette; support means disposed on two opposite sides of said holder tosupport said holder in such a way as to allow said holder to ascend anddescend between an ascended position and a descended position withrespect to a chassis; restricting means for restricting said holder at apredetermined height position when said holder is at the descendedposition; and a subholder supported at one side of said holder in such away as to be movable in directions of ascending and descending of saidholder, wherein said restricting means is arranged to restrict a part ofsaid holder on the other side thereof not supporting said subholder andsaid subholder to the predetermined height position.
 14. A cassetteloading apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a part of said holderon the side thereof supporting said subholder is able to descend furtherfrom the predetermined height position defined by said restrictingmeans.
 15. A cassette loading apparatus according to claim 13, furthercomprising lock means disposed on a side surface of said holder on theside thereof supporting said subholder and arranged to lock said holderto said chassis, wherein the predetermined height position is a heightposition of said holder obtained when said holder is locked by said lockmeans, and said lock means locks said holder by causing said holder todescend a predetermined length of stroke from the predetermined heightposition.
 16. A cassette loading apparatus according to claim 15,wherein said subholder is movable with respect to said holder at leastthe predetermined length of stroke in the directions of ascending anddescending of said holder.